The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-08-27


pretty girls, and that I-well l was plain
Sue, to be sure-but 1 was rather bright
you know; and he came to see us |:
and the moment he laid eyes on mamma,
sitting by the fire with book in her
hand, and rising to meet him like queen
extending that long, sculpturesque bare
hand of hers-mamma never wore rings
her hand was too fine for that-then he
never had five words more for any of us
that day. Sometimes, on other days after
that, when mamma was keeping US in the
background this way, Iris would shrug her
shoulders, or even Prim would raise her
eyebrows at me, when mamma held the
conversation over our heads; and once /
ventured some rather sarcastic piece of my
mind on the subject. "Susette,'' said
mamma, ''you have not yet prepared your
| history lesson. Pray go upstairs and do so
| at once" Just as if l were in pinafores
felt it a regular bread-and- butter insult.
But of course l went. l suppose 1 might
have made fuss; but 1 knew better than
| to have scene. And then the fact is that
all the fuss in the world would really have
| made no difference Mamma might be as
| young as the youngest of US, but we had to
obey when she said so; and Prim liked it.
Well, one day, after this thing had gone
on for some time, Mr.. Poindexter happened
| to meet Prim and me out walking. 1t was
| just the lovely walking weather which
| comes in the middle of q well. conducted
! spring. After the salutations he asked
why Miss Iris was not the third that day,
as in all classic lore the sisters always APP
peared in threes or mines. CO." / an
swered, 'she is with mamma to-day, doing
the family charity" Al y
81 beg your pardon9' he said.
making visits, you know, on our poor
! people and in the hospitals. Mamma has
done it since time began, and thinks it part
of our education"
90, indeed. And she spends much time
that way?" he asked.
1--WE take turns with mamma erery other
morning. Thursday is our Flower Mission
day. 1t is my turn Thursday"
"What a lovely life," he said. "One
makes a sort Of expiation in chat way for
having more than ones equity in this
worlds blessings, as we phrase it, What
a lovely nature that finds its pleasure in
such work!'' And then l was sure it was
Iris to whom Mr. Poindexter was attracted,
He went on with US a little way; and as
| looked up at his serious, proud face, and
saw anew his lofty statare and bearing,
couldn't help admiring MIN little on my
own account, and wishing it had been who
| had been out with mamma that morning,
and had been found onjhe angelic business.
But then, reflected, il | had been l should
not have had the present bliss of being in
his society and making my poor little mark.
| And l reflected, too how mamma would
have despised me if she could have known
my state of mind. And yet l knew very
well that was not in the least affected by
any personal power of Mr.. Poindexter; il
was the power of his bank account, of his
position, of his honsein town, of Poindexter
Place, that moved me, and that confess
| But just as l was going on in this way in
my thoughts we were crossing King street.
on the separate flag-stones, side by side
and Mr.. Poindexter's head was bent TO heal
what Prim was saying, and l was looking
at them, and all in heart beat, as you may
say, and before we heard a sound two
huge horses heads were rearing over our
shoulders, and four great shining forefeet
were paving the air, and Prim had slipped
and fallen and was under them.
never admired any one so much in all
my life-although l was too frightened tc
know it-as l did Mr.. Poindexter at that
moment, when with his figure flung to its
full height and his face white and fixed, he
grasped those horses by the brides and
held them and forced them back with a
perfectly gigantic strength, before the
driver checked them, too, while some one
I'm not sure l don't know who-puled
Prim, who had tainted, out of the way, and
| was screaming at the top of my voice
Then Mr.. Poindexter called coach and
drove home with US, it seemed to me, while
was crying over Prim, as fast as the vino
blows over the top of Mount Washington
But as fast as we drove, the news of what
had happened was before US, and mamma
was rushing to the door: she was awfully
fond of Prim, and never made any secret
of it; Prim was her comfort and her darl
ing. And when Prim, pale and teary, haG
flung herself into mammals arms, anC
mamma had exclaimed and kissed her, and
cried over her as if there wasn't another
person in the world, suddenly she tore her
self away, the tears still pouring over hel
flushed face, her eyes all suffused with
them till they looked like melted sapphires
and ran to Mr.. Poindexter and seized his
hand in both hers. co." she cried, ''you
have saved to Inc the dearest thing have
How can l ever thank you?"
81 know way" Mr.. Poindexter muir
INJURED, and murmured so low that Iguessed
rather than heard what he said
''Aha" thought to myself, as helped
Prim, who was considerably torn and
soiled as to her garments, from the room,
'now am absolutely sure he is going tc
ask mamma for Prim. Itwon't make much
odds about her new spring suits being
ruined by those hoofs; therell be wedding
garments presently. Well, don't care.
shall have just as good times in Poindexte1
Place as if it were mine; and Eve no doubt
that some of the Poindexter splendor will
overflow on me from PRINTS pin-money. u
And as afterWard, looking from the win.
dow, l saw mamma and Mr. Poindexter
pacing up and down the little garden-place
where the grass was just greening and the
crocuses blooming out, l made no doubt
that he was arranging with mamma the
settlements to be made on Prim; all the
surer when, as he was going away, he took
off his hat and bent as Sir Lancelot might
have done, and kissed that white hand of
hers.
THAT settles it," said l. "And pm.sure
Pm relieved, Prim, on the whole, that it,
not who have to play Esther to Ahasue-
rus. And must say l think you'll do
credit to your position, your such pretty
little pale thing with your black hair and
long eyelashes, and you'll be so like lady
of romance in your great big house, and
your big carriage, and in your evening